Monday, April 27, 2009

Well this was supposed to be a really great post showing off the Lane Venture outdoor wicker furniture I got on Craig's List for a song (and I mean, a really great song, like a Rogers and Hammerstein, sing out loud, Oklahoma! kind of song) it was that cheap.

It all started out so innocently. I've been searching Craig's List for weeks for all weather wicker for my patio and knew exactly what I wanted. Earlier in the week I found a set that looked promising and drove 40 minutes to check it out. But once I sat in it I knew it was just wrong. It just wasn't comfortable. I'd like to say the chairs were just too big for my teeny tiny self, but I'd be lying. The truth of the matter is I was just too big for the furniture, it was just too tiny. Too tiny in a looks good, but don't touch it kind of way. And I didn't want to just look at it, I had visions of whiling away my summer afternoons reading decorating magazines on it, with an icy cold Diet Coke at my side. It just didn't fit into my vision so I was back to square one.

And then after my 10th search for "outdoor wicker" on Craig's List Saturday (you have to be ready to pounce) my dream set, by Lane Venture turned up. It was in excellent shape; all white, curvy, with a soft cushion and beautiful. (Sorta how I'd like to be!) Anyway, I called the number associated with the ad, spoke to a lovely woman who told me I was the first caller and I promptly scheduled an appointment to go see it for the next day. The price was fantastic ($225 for a sofa, two chairs, a coffee table and two side tables) so I knew that unless it was vastly different in person than the photos showed I was going to buy it. So I told the woman I would buy it.

I went to sleep filled with excitement thinking about how I was going to set it up on the patio. The next morning I woke up, whistling Dixie knowing it was going to be a great day. And then the phone rang. It was Donna, the seller calling to tell me that she was just "Oh so sorry, but someone else had bought the set." I couldn't believe my ears and pointed out I was the first caller! I had an appointment! I was trustworthy! I was coming to get the set. I had already taken out the seats in the van for GOD'S SAKE!!!

She went on to explain another buyer had called the night before (after me) and asked if they took Paypal and then asked what their Paypal seller address was and she gave it to him. SHE GAVE IT TO HIM!!!!! When she and her husband woke up in the morning "it was just paid for" on Paypal and there wasn't anything she could do. Just like that!!!????? Hmm, something in me just wants to raise the bulls@%t flag. (Can you tell I'm still mad?)

Can you believe that? What kind of snarky thing is that? I could not get over it. I told her "it was just so wrong, I would have paid her with Paypal had I known, we had an agreement, did she have any idea how hard it is to take out the middle seats on the van?" At that point she just said she was just "so sorry" and hung up.

I spent the rest of the day going over the story with my kids and trying to take comfort in the fact that even though I didn't get the set, it was an opportunity for me to teach them a life lesson about being true to your word, personal integrity, trust and blah, blah, blah, blah. I still can't believe I didn't get that set..........

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Have you checked out Craig's List recently? I think with all of the bad things that have happened associated with Craig's List a lot of people are really hesitant to shop that way. As women, we just need to be really smart about it and trust our instincts. I have purchased alot of things for the barn show on Craig's List and have met some really wonderful sellers.

I'm always on the look out for great pieces for my house or the next barn show and I found some really cool things this week.

I bought this really nice antique wicker chair from a great seller. Turns out she's always wanted to do something like the barn sale and so we had a great time chatting about how she can make her dream come true. The chair is great but what I loved most is how out of all the buyers and sellers on Craig's List we met and I was able to help her think about turning her dream into a reality.

I bought this table and chair from a really fun couple who had just downsized from a 4,000 square foot home into a condo. We went to their storage unit and it was full of great stuff. I put both of these pieces in my living room until the next barn show. I never buy anything for the barn unless I absolutely love it, because if it doesn't sell, it may end up in my house!

I'll post some more photos tomorrow of the rest of my purchases. And with any luck it will include a set of Lane Venture wicker I'm going to check out this afternoon!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

When my family and I were in Yosemite National Park last week I told my sons that this beautiful, majestic part of the world was here long before we were put on earth, and if we all take care of it, it will be here long after we are gone. Happy earth day!(Now, go hug a tree!)

Sunday, April 19, 2009

I can't believe it's been a week since my last post! Once we got back to the east coast from California I spent the rest of the week trying to get my life back in order. The barn show, although fabulous, took up a lot of my time and so now that that and our mini vacation is over I've been trying to get back to my "real world". Of course the real world isn't nearly as much fun as being in the middle of such awe inspiring scenery (Yosemite) or hunting down treasures for the barn show!

But nonetheless, it actually feels good to have things at a little bit of a slower pace. So, I promise that starting now I'll be a much more frequent blogger! (I don't want to lose a single one of you!)

So until my next post, check out some of my photos from our trip to Yosemite:

Saturday, April 11, 2009

My family and I flew to San Francisco yesterday and drove over to Yosemite National Park and met up with my brother-in-law and his family. It's our first time here and we are all overwhelmed by how unbelievably beautiful it is at every turn.

So far we've had snow, rain, bear and coyote sightings and hiked 6,000 feet up a mountain. I am not kidding on that one. It was so hard! I don't exactly hike up mountains every day and I learned the Wii Fit doesn't really prepare you very well for the experience. The hike kicked my butt! By the time we made it back down the mountain my legs were like jelly!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The day after the barn sale I woke up in a total funk. It was like the day after Christmas only New Year's Eve isn't right around the corner.

I felt so sad and depressed. It certainly wasn't because of our sales though. We actually had the most successful spring show ever! Going into it I really had no feel for how well I would do, but I'm actually thrilled with how much I sold, so my depression isn't monetarily related.

I had been riding such a wave of excitement ever since I joined the group a few months ago and started preparing for my first show. But Monday morning I just crashed. Fatigue was definitely a factor. The three day sale was exhausting and I was going on pure adrenaline.

I guess I just have the post barn sale blues.... What am I going to do now? It's five months until our next sale.......

(I promise I'll have photos up as soon as possible! I'm just waiting to get them from another one of the barn girls!)

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The barn show opens tomorrow morning, everything looks fabulous and we are ready to go! The weather doesn't look like it's going to cooperate because thunderstorms are in the forecast. That's okay though, we'll just consider it liquid sunshine. Nothing will dampen my excitement!